BASTA ! RISTORANTE E BAR — Restaurant in Reims

We were on a short stay in Reims and left our hotel to look for a restaurant. We were on a touring holiday so hardly realised it was a Saturday night. We were turned away at the first two restaurants we went to but were luckier at Basta! This was not because it was quiet - it was very busy. It just seemed that the manager really wanted to help and managed to squeeze us in. Our waiter was both efficient and friendly and enjoyed using his good English. The restaurant opened only 5 months ago. The environment was lovely and there was a very friendly atmosphere with couples, family groups and groups of friends. We had been eating a lot on holiday so only wanted one course. Both of us chose Lasagne and really liked it. As good as any I have had in Italy or in the excellent Italian restaurants in Glasgow. We had a good bottle of Pinot Grigio and some lovely gelato. Very reasonably priced. It was a very relaxing evening and we did not feel any pressure to leave even though it was so busy. We were very grateful to Basta! for giving us such an enjoyable end to our European tour. Could not recommend...

Tried Basta Italian Restaurant and unfortunately, it was a miss from start to finish.

We ordered the Volana clams with spaghetti, pizza with mushroom and ham, and a Caesar salad. The salad was actually good—until I got confused by the random red onions on everything. Why? Especially in a Caesar?

The pasta dish was the real disappointment. Yes, I know it’s supposed to be made with olive oil, parsley, and garlic—but this was overcooked spaghetti with zero flavor. Some of the clams were not even open, which is a huge no. I’ve had this exact dish countless times in many places, and I can say with confidence this was one of the worst.

To top it off, we waited ages for the bill, and the two servers didn’t even know which table to bring the food to. Our dishes sat getting cold while they sorted it out.

Honestly, by far the worst meal we’ve had in France.

@bastaitalianrestaurant #BastaItalian #FoodieFail #OvercookedPasta #ColdFoodDrama #WhereAreTheFlavors #DisappointingDinner #FranceFoodFail #RedOnionOverload #ClamDisaster...

Thank you to all at Basta! for not one but two FANTASIC dining experiences. My partner and I were visiting Reims for just four days in April but once we tried Basta! we simply HAD to return. Their pizzas are out of this world and a must try if you are anywhere near the area. I actually told the owner Alexandre that he was serving the best pizzas in Italy never mind France!! Service is superb with Alexandre, his lovely daughter and the charming team going out of their way with exceptional service and plenty of smiles. Warm, welcoming and absolutely delicious. We could not have asked for more. We are planning another trip to France this summer and would definitely go out of our way to make a return visit, after all, you can never have...